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Community poised for growth, change in 2013

Contractor Randy Upson, left, and Mark Johnson, both of Flagler Beach, work on The Funky Pelican restaurant, which is scheduled to open this month on the Flagler Beach Pier.

News-Journal file

Published: Wednesday, January 2, 2013 at 5:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, January 1, 2013 at 4:31 p.m.

The holidays are over, the decorations are coming down and Flagler County officials and residents are looking forward to getting things done in the new year. From Flagler Beach to Bunnell, Palm Coast to Marineland and everywhere in between, 2013 looks to be full of new efforts in a variety of areas, with expectations of better things ahead.

The year began with the creation of the Flagler County Department of Economic Opportunity and the hiring of Helga van Eckert as executive director.

Economic development efforts took a new turn in 2012 after the disbanding of Enterprise Flagler, the now-defunct public/private economic development agency.

With a focus on attracting new business development and bringing more jobs to Flagler County, van Eckert and the Economic Opportunity Advisory Council held a day-long retreat in the spring to craft vision and mission statements and set goals.

"I think we made great strides in preparing the county to be competitive in 2013," Van Eckert said. "I feel confident we're going to see continued improvement on the economic development front."

Job creation and economic development are also a focus of the Palm Coast City Council in 2013.

New member David Ferguson, appointed to fill the seat of Councilman Frank Meeker, who resigned for a successful run for the Flagler County Commission, said his priority is to improve the city's business and economic climate.

"My vision and goal for 2013 is to bring some business here and create some jobs," he said.

The city's economic development efforts — including the Palm Coast Business Assistance Center — head into the new year focused on helping existing businesses thrive with expectations to build on momentum created in 2012.

"This past year we finally saw some positive trends," said Beau Falgout, Palm Coast senior economic development planner. "We're very hopeful where our local economy is going in the next year."

One area expected to pay dividends is tourist development.

Georgia Turner, vice president of tourism development at the Flagler County Chamber of Commerce & Affiliates, said 2012 was a very good year for tourism in the county and she expects 2013 to offer even better results.

"We reached $1.5 million in bed-tax collections and that's major for us," Turner said. "It was a great year all around. We're getting ready to launch a new Hospitality Alliance and that will start in January."

Tourism infrastructure also is a top priority for Flagler Beach officials.

City officials are waiting for a study due this month to decide whether to implement a plan to tackle beach erosion proposed by Holmberg Technologies, which is expected to cost in the millions of dollars.

"That's always the biggest problem — where are you going to get the money to fund a $1 million or $10 million project?" said City Commissioner Joy McGrew.

Flagler Beach residents are also anticipating the opening of the Funky Pelican restaurant at the Flagler Pier.

"We're hoping the pier restaurant is going to be a spectacular success," said Commission Vice Chairman Steve Settle. The restaurant is expected to open later this month, according to a post on the restaurant's Facebook page.

EDUCATION

Flagler County students could be dealing with some big changes in the way they go to school as school officials consider new ways to organize the student population.

Officials are considering moving away from traditional elementary and middle school models in favor of a system that would keep students on the same campus from kindergarten until they reach their early teens.

Potential plans to create a system of K-8 schools were unveiled by school district staff to the School Board, each with a specialty area such as performing arts or math and science. The idea behind the new system of K-8 schools is to lessen disruption of transitions to new campuses and help students keep pace with increasingly rigorous academic standards.

"Our No. 1 focus is the transition to common core standards," said Superintendent Janet Valentine. "We've been in that process for about a year-and-a-half now."

School officials will also have about $4 million annually from a half-cent sales tax referendum approved by voters in August of 2012. The bulk of that money, which must be used for capital expenses, will likely be used to fund the county's technology program.

JAIL EXPANSION

The 2012 general election also made for some changes in 2013, with former Sheriff James Manfre returning to the top cop post. Manfre defeated incumbent Sheriff Donald Fleming and said explanding the county jail is one of his top priorities for 2013.

"There are a lot of important things to take care of and the jail is one of them," Manfre said. "Nine years ago I presented a plan to remodel and add on. (Jail expansion), obviously, isn't a popular issue with taxpayers but something needs to be done."

Manfre has support for jail improvements from new county commissioners Charlie Ericksen and Frank Meeker.

"It's the No. 1 item on the list," Ericksen said. "Especially with the threat of the state to leave the population in the jail if sentences are close to a year. That will cost (the county) a lot (in expenses related to housing inmates)."

CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

In the county seat, Bunnell officials are gearing up for the city's Centennial Celebration with the first of a year-long series of events set for Jan. 12.

The city's 100th birthday will be celebrated with events throughout the year, culminating in a two-day event in November with the Centennial Gala, Festival of the Century, Centennial Parade and grand finale.

"Just a hoe down, that's what it's going to be," said Judi Stetson, Bunnell community redevleopment director. "We're going to have vendors of all kinds, historical information displays and then we're going to have our centennial parade."

The city is working with the Florida Department of Transportation to hang a centennial banner across State Road 100, along with 29 other banners throughout town.

NEW DIRECTOR

Even Marineland will see some changes in 2013, with a new director set to take over at the Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience.

Mark Q. Martindale from the University of Hawaii, Manoa, joined the lab Jan. 1. He has been director of Kewalo Marine Laboratory in Honolulu since 2007 with an area of expertise in evolutionary developmental biology studies.

Martindale is also the co-editor of EvoDevo, a magazine dedicated to the field.

"It's a great opportunity for the Whitney Lab and we are thrilled to be able to recruit such an outstanding scientist," said Peter A. V. Anderson, outgoing director at the University of Florida facility.

<p>The holidays are over, the decorations are coming down and Flagler County officials and residents are looking forward to getting things done in the new year. From Flagler Beach to Bunnell, Palm Coast to Marineland and everywhere in between, 2013 looks to be full of new efforts in a variety of areas, with expectations of better things ahead. </p><p>The year began with the creation of the Flagler County Department of Economic Opportunity and the hiring of <b>Helga van Eckert</b> as executive director. </p><p>Economic development efforts took a new turn in 2012 after the disbanding of Enterprise Flagler, the now-defunct public/private economic development agency. </p><p>With a focus on attracting new business development and bringing more jobs to Flagler County, van Eckert and the Economic Opportunity Advisory Council held a day-long retreat in the spring to craft vision and mission statements and set goals. </p><p>"I think we made great strides in preparing the county to be competitive in 2013," Van Eckert said. "I feel confident we're going to see continued improvement on the economic development front." </p><p>Job creation and economic development are also a focus of the Palm Coast City Council in 2013. </p><p>New member <b>David Ferguson</b>, appointed to fill the seat of Councilman Frank Meeker, who resigned for a successful run for the Flagler County Commission, said his priority is to improve the city's business and economic climate. </p><p>"My vision and goal for 2013 is to bring some business here and create some jobs," he said. </p><p>The city's economic development efforts &mdash; including the <b>Palm Coast Business Assistance Center</b> &mdash; head into the new year focused on helping existing businesses thrive with expectations to build on momentum created in 2012. </p><p>"This past year we finally saw some positive trends," said <b>Beau Falgout</b>, Palm Coast senior economic development planner. "We're very hopeful where our local economy is going in the next year." </p><p>One area expected to pay dividends is tourist development. </p><p><b>Georgia Turner</b>, vice president of tourism development at the Flagler County Chamber of Commerce & Affiliates, said 2012 was a very good year for tourism in the county and she expects 2013 to offer even better results. </p><p>"We reached $1.5 million in bed-tax collections and that's major for us," Turner said. "It was a great year all around. We're getting ready to launch a new <b>Hospitality Alliance</b> and that will start in January." </p><p>Tourism infrastructure also is a top priority for Flagler Beach officials. </p><p>City officials are waiting for a study due this month to decide whether to implement a plan to tackle beach erosion proposed by <b>Holmberg Technologies</b>, which is expected to cost in the millions of dollars. </p><p>"That's always the biggest problem &mdash; where are you going to get the money to fund a $1 million or $10 million project?" said City Commissioner Joy McGrew. </p><p>Flagler Beach residents are also anticipating the opening of the <b>Funky Pelican</b> restaurant at the Flagler Pier. </p><p>"We're hoping the pier restaurant is going to be a spectacular success," said Commission Vice Chairman Steve Settle. The restaurant is expected to open later this month, according to a post on the restaurant's Facebook page.</p><p><b>EDUCATION </b> </p><p> </p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Flagler County students could be dealing with some big changes in the way they go to school as school officials consider new ways to organize the student population. </p><p>Officials are considering moving away from traditional elementary and middle school models in favor of a system that would keep students on the same campus from kindergarten until they reach their early teens. </p><p>Potential plans to create a system of K-8 schools were unveiled by school district staff to the School Board, each with a specialty area such as performing arts or math and science. The idea behind the new system of K-8 schools is to lessen disruption of transitions to new campuses and help students keep pace with increasingly rigorous academic standards. </p><p>"Our No. 1 focus is the transition to common core standards," said <b>Superintendent Janet Valentine</b>. "We've been in that process for about a year-and-a-half now." </p><p>School officials will also have about $4 million annually from a <b>half-cent sales tax</b> referendum approved by voters in August of 2012. The bulk of that money, which must be used for capital expenses, will likely be used to fund the county's technology program.</p><p><b>JAIL EXPANSION </b> </p><p> </p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>The 2012 general election also made for some changes in 2013, with former Sheriff <b>James Manfre</b> returning to the top cop post. Manfre defeated incumbent Sheriff <b>Donald Fleming</b> and said explanding the county jail is one of his top priorities for 2013. </p><p>"There are a lot of important things to take care of and the jail is one of them," Manfre said. "Nine years ago I presented a plan to remodel and add on. (Jail expansion), obviously, isn't a popular issue with taxpayers but something needs to be done." </p><p>Manfre has support for jail improvements from new county commissioners <b>Charlie Ericksen</b> and <b>Frank Meeker</b>. </p><p>"It's the No. 1 item on the list," Ericksen said. "Especially with the threat of the state to leave the population in the jail if sentences are close to a year. That will cost (the county) a lot (in expenses related to housing inmates)."</p><p><b>CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION </b> </p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>In the county seat, Bunnell officials are gearing up for the city's <b>Centennial Celebration</b> with the first of a year-long series of events set for Jan. 12. </p><p>The city's 100th birthday will be celebrated with events throughout the year, culminating in a two-day event in November with the <b>Centennial Gala, Festival of the Century, Centennial Parade</b> and grand finale. </p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>"Just a hoe down, that's what it's going to be," said Judi Stetson, Bunnell community redevleopment director. "We're going to have vendors of all kinds, historical information displays and then we're going to have our centennial parade." </p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>The city is working with the Florida Department of Transportation to hang a centennial banner across State Road 100, along with 29 other banners throughout town.</p><p><b>NEW DIRECTOR </b> </p><p> </p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Even Marineland will see some changes in 2013, with a new director set to take over at the <b>Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience.</b> </p><p><b>Mark Q. Martindale</b> from the University of Hawaii, Manoa, joined the lab Jan. 1. He has been director of Kewalo Marine Laboratory in Honolulu since 2007 with an area of expertise in evolutionary developmental biology studies. </p><p>Martindale is also the co-editor of EvoDevo, a magazine dedicated to the field. </p><p>"It's a great opportunity for the Whitney Lab and we are thrilled to be able to recruit such an outstanding scientist," said <b>Peter A. V. Anderson</b>, outgoing director at the University of Florida facility.</p><p></p><p><i>&mdash; Staff writers Frank Fernandez, Aaron London, Annie Martin and Julie Murphy and Correspondent Danielle Anderson contributed to this story. </i></p>